Systems Engineering: degree ROI, salary & best colleges
Systems Engineering graduates earn a median $105,185 four years after finishing — $56,825/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline. At a typical $16,902/yr net price ($67,608 over four years), that pays back in about 1.2 years. Federal data pools 31 bachelor's programs graduating roughly 677 students a year. (Scorecard field-of-study, 2026 · our math.)
Systems Engineering ranks #6 of 202 bachelor's fields by earnings — pays more than 98% of majors.
| # | College | State | Grad earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Virginia-Main Campus | VA | $144,830 |
| 2 | Massachusetts Maritime Academy | MA | $125,191 |
| 3 | University of Florida | FL | $122,299 |
| 4 | George Washington University | DC | $120,976 |
| 5 | Washington University in St Louis | MO | $119,297 |
| 6 | George Mason University | VA | $114,815 |
| 7 | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign | IL | $106,805 |
| 8 | University of Arizona | AZ | $100,468 |
| 9 | Kennesaw State University | GA | $89,696 |
| 10 | University of North Carolina at Charlotte | NC | $84,648 |
| 11 | Texas A & M International University | TX | $60,126 |
College Scorecard field-of-study (2026), program-level median earnings for this CIP · our ranking.
How we compute this. Earnings are the national median for graduates of this field measured 1 and 4 years after completion (Scorecard field-of-study, bachelor's). Premium = 4-year earnings − the $48,360 high-school baseline. Payback = a representative 4-year net cost (median college net price × 4) ÷ premium. Field medians blend every school — a specific program can pay far more or less. Full method on the methodology page; the field ranking is on ROI by major.
How fast does Systems Engineering pay grow after graduation?
From $76,660 one year out to $105,185 four years out — a $28,525 climb, or 37% over three years. Both are federal medians of the same graduating cohorts, so the gap reflects real wage progression rather than a change in who is measured.
How many students graduate in Systems Engineering each year?
About 677 bachelor's graduates a year across 31 programs in the federal file. Cohort size matters when reading the median: a field this size averages across a wide range of employers, regions and job titles.